West Africa · Main
Cafriela de Frango (Spicy Marinated Grilled Chicken)
Flame-charred chicken steeped in an assertive marinade of lime juice, crushed malagueta chilis, garlic, and caramelized shallots.
The story
Cafriela de Frango is beloved among urban Guinean Creole households in Bissau, featuring prominently at weekend courtyard gatherings and lively communal parties. Derived from historical maritime crosscurrents between Afro-Portuguese trading posts, the dish hinges on emulsifying raw citrus with aromatic fats before grilling. The high-acid marinade acts as a rapid tenderizer, breaking down collagen within poultry muscle fibers so the meat stays succulent over direct open-flame coals.
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